Australia’s media regulator has concluded that Tabcorp’s Tap in-play betting service does not breach federal interactive gambling laws, ruling that the product falls within a permitted exemption under the Interactive Gambling Act 2001.
The Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) said in its final investigation report that ‘the Tabcorp Tap in-play service is not a prohibited interactive gambling service’ under subsection 15(2A) of the Act.
The investigation examined whether the service, which allows customers at licensed Tabcorp venues to place in-play bets using their smartphones and dedicated in-venue stations, contravened restrictions on online wagering. Under the system, users build live bets through the TAB app and complete the transaction by tapping their device against a Tap in-play station located inside the venue.
The oversight body determined that the service meets the definition of a ‘place-based betting service’ under section 8BA of the Act, an exemption introduced in 2017 to permit in-venue in-play betting using electronic terminals. The regulator found that the Tap in-play platform, although using newer technology, operates within the scope of this exception.
In its report, the ACMA noted that ‘the preferable construction is that the Tap in-play service is not a prohibited interactive gambling service,’ describing the case as ‘finely balanced’ in light of harm minimization objectives.
The regulator also acknowledged that in-play betting presents heightened risks for people vulnerable to gambling harm. It said the Interactive Gambling Act restricts such betting to physical venues where behavior can be monitored.
The ACMA highlighted that Tabcorp’s Real Time Intervention (RTI) system provides stronger consumer protections than those currently applied to traditional electronic betting terminals. The RTI system operates continuously and identifies customers who may be at risk of gambling harm in real time.
The authority emphasized that its decision applies specifically to the current operation of the Tap in-play service within Tabcorp venues. Any wider rollout remains subject to approval by state and territory regulators.
If approvals are granted, the ACMA said it will closely monitor the service’s implementation. Tabcorp is also required to report regularly on the operation of its RTI system and any incidents involving Tap in-play users.
